Marian Ridge was established in 1976 as a so-called Coloured Township to relocate coloured families living in a around Durban. This was part of the implementation of the Apartheid Group Areas Act. The first families moved into the area in June 1976. The people came from Pinetown, Motala Farm, Clemont, Thornwood, Cato Manor, Umlazi and other areas. Initially 600 units of flats and semi-detached houses were built to accommodate coloured people. When residents arrived there was no infra-structure, no transport system, no access roads to flats no schools and no shops.
Over the years ownership and RDP houses were built. There is now a swimming pool, taxi rank, clinic, crèche, fire station, library, community hall, churches, crisis centre, a mosque, primary and high school.

The archive includes mainly collected interviews following standard D/S questionnaire format i.e. biography, family tree, and memories about area, what has changed? What would you change? Dreams for future of area/self, popular saying/proverb, favorite song and any other comments (see D/s questionnaire on www.durbansings.wordpress.com )
Mix languages mainly English some Afrikaans.
These tracks were recorded by Linda DuPreez, Beverley Webster, Kathy Boyce, Charlene Bridger of Mariann Coordinating Committee (MCC)in Marian Ridge Durban South Africa in May/ June 2009. The recordings are published to feed debate and listening exchange

Durban Sings! Interview Archive

Play list - Marian Ridge Interview archive 2010

01.Wendy Morrise.DURBAN SINGS!Marrian Ridge 22:31
02.Sherine.DURBAN SINGS!Marrian Ridge 29:39
03.Cherise.DURBAN SINGS!Marrian Ridge (a) 14:22
DURBAN SINGS!Marrian Ridge (b) 14:22
04.Advance.DURBAN SINGS!Marrian Ridge 00:57
05.Linna Cork.DURBAN SINGS!Marrian Ridge 13:11
06.Granny De Bruin.DURBAN SINGS!Marrian Ridge 45:49
07.Colen Eiman.DURBAN SINGS!Marrian Ridge 05:31
08.Emelda Ywes.DURBAN SINGS!Marrian Ridge 14:16
09.Eva King.DURBAN SINGS!Marrian Ridge 22:29
10.Nora Bridja.DURBAN SINGS!Marrian Ridge 08:45
11.Rose Phiri.DURBAN SINGS!Marrian Ridge 12:37
12.Ann Moodly.DURBAN SINGS!Marrian Ridge (a) 00:29
DURBAN SINGS!Marrian Ridge (b)07:40
13.Mily Gorden.DURBAN SINGS!Marrian Ridge 04:59
14.Vaneshia Skief.DURBAN SINGS!Marrian Ridge 09:29
15.Proud Granny.DURBAN SINGS!Marrian Ridge 00:32

Production underway for the: âDurban Sings! Remixing Oral History for a Global Audienceâ DVD publication.
The team has decided on producing a mini documentary production using video and audio media tools for inclusion in the final compilation. The documentary to be created will portray the life of the people in Marian Ridge.
Like most urban townships we are plagued by the evils constructed by apartheid and post apartheidâs inability to address fundamental development issues of the poor.
Mariann Co â ordinating Committee (M.C.C.) is a community based response to many of the daily challenges. M.C.C. is the vehicle through which ordinary citizenâs make use of the skills, talents and deep longing for a healthy and happy community to build a better environment.

Project 2010 â M.C.C. worked with the C.S.S. in the Durban Sings initiative. It was during the story â telling process that we became aware as residents and leaders that the local history and story was yet to be told. It was during this process that the real pain and hurt of a people thrown together, with no resources to cushion the traumatic eventâs, came to the fore.

Post the blog the participants of the process discussed a possibility of a continued process. Two ideas emerged: to write a collection of local stories and publish or to create a documentary on the life of the people of Mariannridge. We have decided to create a documentary, in partnership with CSS, on the life of Marian Ridge. The theme: Young Talent.

Young Talent â will tell the rich story of a very talented people. Talents like soccer, rugby, dance, art, poetry and music. Beginning at the Heritage Day Celebration to be held on the 24th September 2010 â the documentary will showcase young people in competition of soccer and dance. It will also show the colorful heritage of the coloured community. The documentary will then focus on individual young people who are extremely talented â follow the stories of their families â their path in education or lack thereof â and their dreams and hopes for the future. The documentary can also focus on the opportunities available for young people and access to these opportunities.

How will it be done? Young people will be involved in the process of creating the documentary. They will acquire skills in the process but more importantly own the process. They will also ensure the story is told in the spirit and with the real issues of the local people. CSS will support with the skills and the technical support for the process.

Who will do it? A group of young people who are involved in the project as âthe unemployedâ young collective, will coordinate and execute the tasks involved. Some of them have dropped out of school, others have completed matric and some are semi - skilled and unable to find full time work.


Activity Date Where Who Resources
Begin documenting. 24th October Mariannridge Sports Ground Youth
CSS Video Recorder

Follow stories 27th October Mariannridge Youth Recorders
Story line

Compiling documentary End October October Mariannridge
UKZN Youth Equipment for making dvd.


Other online resources can be found in these links:
http://www.archive.org/details/DurbanSings_684
http://www.archive.org/details/03RawFootageArchiveMariannridge

PLEASE SHARE ALIKE. WE treasure these records.

Related parts of the DURBAN SINGS audio archive can be accessed via the switchboard blog http://www.durbansings.wordpress.com and directly via the local editorial teams:

CLERMONT http://www.ubuntubabasha.wordpress.com
FOLWENI http://www.imisebenziyentsha.wordpress.com
INANDA/ NTUZUMA http://www.inanda.wordpress.com
INNER CITY http://www.communitymediadesk.wordpress.com
MZINYATHI http://www.malungisa.wordpress.com
MARIANNRIDGE http://www.mariannridge.wordpress.com
UMLAZI http://www.umlaziyouth.wordpress.com